What does "differential assessment" involve?

Differential assessment refers to the approach of modifying assessments to accommodate the diverse abilities, learning preferences, and needs of students. This involves tailoring assessments in ways that can help ensure all students have an equitable opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and mastery of the content. For instance, a teacher might provide additional time, use varied formats (like oral presentations or visual projects), or adjust the complexity of tasks based on individual student needs.

Using the same assessment for all students does not take into account their different capabilities and learning styles, which can disadvantage some learners. Providing assessments with a uniform difficulty level misses the potential to differentiate for varied student competencies. Lastly, focusing exclusively on group assessments overlooks the individual needs of each student, as it may not accurately reflect their knowledge or skills. Therefore, modifying assessments to cater to various abilities and styles is fundamental to ensuring every student can succeed in a responsive and supportive learning environment.